High speed rail network under consideration

Parliament - Current proposals for a high-speed train network include four routes, Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele said on Monday.

In written reply to a parliamentary question, he said a first order network had been proposed through the National Transport Master Plan (Natmap) process.

"The network is still draft and is subject to refinement. Please note that accepted definition of high-speed trains are those designed for more than 200km per hour," he said.

The current proposed high-speed railway network was between Johannesburg and Durban, Johannesburg and Polokwane, Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the Moloto Corridor.

The only feasibility study that had been developed for this network was the Moloto Corridor at R9.3bn.

The Johannesburg to Durban link was being subjected to a pre-feasibility and later a feasibility study, and details regarding this project would be known once the feasibility studies had been completed.

"There is no work that has been done for the other links within the network," Ndebele said.

Comments

Rick
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2010-09-20 16:42

What about housing for the people as promised before wasting huge funds on another white elephant for the mega rich govt officials.

alx
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2010-09-21 07:16

The govt recently signed an agreement with PRC (China)for China to develop our rail system which is antiquated, too slow and probably dangerously expensive to maintain. If Transnet was on the JSE I would buy into it because with a modern and fast rail system like what the Chinese have (they invested US$282billion over 10years)this country will accelerate its growth rate and create a larger middle class within the next 10 years. China's rail system is efficient, fast, not cheap but moves people and goods in numbers we in in SA can't imagine. I am no supporter of any political party but support growth and success. If you can come to China and see .